First on today’s tape is an episode of Film 86 in which Barry Norman looks at the following films:
There’s a report on Women in Film, by Tom Brook.
There’s also a short look at the filming of the car chase in To Live and Die in LA (or To Live and Let Die in LA as Barry calls it in his introduction).
BBC Genome: BBC One – 27th May 1986 – 23:00
After this, recording switches to Channel 4 and Cheers – Diane Chambers Day. This is now Season 4, so we’ve lost Coach, as Nicholas Colasanto died during the film of the previous series, and he’s been replaced by Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd. I was skeptical about bringing in another ‘dumb’ character, but Woody turned out to be a great addition.
After Diane is upset that the rest of the gang didn’t invite her round to Sam’s to watch The Magnificent Seven, Frasier suggests they make it up to her by taking Diane to the Opera. “These seats aren’t even bolted down. That’s class.”
After the Opera, Sam and Diane start smooching, but in the end Diane thinks it’s better not to sleep together that night.
In the next episode, Relief Bartender, it seems that Sam isn’t trying very hard to win over Diane.
Sam tells people that what Cheers needs is him acting as a Host/Manager.
His big booking is a whole Caribou lodge – which turns out to be three people.
The whole thing is not working, so Sam now has to fire the new bartender he hired. Made rather more difficult when he brings his young family to meet Sam.
Sam can’t fire Ken, so he has to try to fire Woody.
Then Ken comes to tell Sam that he’s just been offered a great new job by someone in the bar, so Sam has to apologise to Woody, and offer him his job back. He even offers him $100 a month raise. But when he tries to walk it back a bit, Woody says “I’ll tell ya. I think 100 a month is too steep. I’ll settle for $30 a week.” Sam says “You got it.” straightens his tie, “Host slash Manager extraordinaire.”
The next episode is Strange Bedfellows (Part 1 of 3). Frasier is glum as it’s the anniversary of being dumped at the altar.
A local politician, Janet Eldridge (Kate Mulgrew) makes a campaign stop at Cheers. After flirting with Sam, when she leaves, her campaign manager (David Paymer) gives Sam her private number.
Sam starts dating Janet, and Diane is convinced that she’s only dating Sam because he’s a local celebrity and will encourage votes. She confronts Janet, who admits that she did start dating Sam for more political reasons, but she’s fallen for him quite heavily.
On election day, Janet’s opposition, Jim Fleener, is a bit despondent. the “WIM WITH JIM” slogan was Diane’s idea. “It’s very Joycean.”
The episode ends with Janet thanking Sam at the podium and kissing him. As he leaves, Fleener says “That was my last chance. Looks like I blew it.” And Diane says “Me too.” I did cry, despite Sam and Diane being the least compatible couple in the history of everything.
Before the next episode there’s the end of an episode of What Do Those Old Films Mean?
Then, the second part of this three part season finale, Strange Bedfellows (Part 2 of 3). Sam and Janet are still dating, and Diane is still jealous. She gets annoyed at his name-dropping, but when Gary Hart (one-time potential presidential candidate) pops into the bar to return Sam’s coat, which he left in his car, she gets just as ridiculously star struck.
Diane is closing up the bar when Sam and Janet return, and she hides as they discuss her. Janet is worried about Diane working with Sam given their history, and asks him to fire her.
So Diane decides to quit. By letter. “Does this mean you’re quitting?” “Isn’t that what it clearly states on page 5?”
And the episode ends with Diane storming out, saying “You will never ever see me again”. Then has to try to get her coat from the coat-stand.
And if you’re wondering about the last part of this trilogy, that came up way back in 2016.
After this, the recording continues, with quite a lot of an episode of Budgie, the cheeky, chirpy comedy crime show starring Adam Faith and Iain Cuthbertson.
The tape ends during this programme.
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